Joanne (Copperskye) Reads in 2026

Hi all, and welcome!

I’m Joanne, aka Copperskye, back again (honestly, it’s scary to think of how many years now!) to record my reads and try again to get to 75. I live in Colorado, by way of New Jersey, with my husband, adolescent golden retriever, and sweet grey tux cat. We have an adult son, a writer and teacher, who recently moved back to Denver.

I read a lot of fiction, mostly mysteries and historical fiction. My favorites in 2025 were:

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
Black Butterflies by Priscilla Morris
The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman
Three Days in June by Anne Tyler
The Wedding People by Alison Espach
Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green
Tilt by Emma Pattee
The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin by Alison Goodman
The Ferryman and His Wife by Frode Grytten

I love to have visitors but I don’t post very much; mostly just lurk. I’m going to try to rectify that this year. Best laid plans and all that.

I can’t start the year without photos of my little ones.

Finley, the golden retriever, will be 2 in May. He shares bloodlines with his two big sisters, Copper and Skye (hence my LT name), who are both sorely missed and dearly remembered. He’s growing up.

Boomer, the gray tux kitty is 13 and a love. She tolerates Finn. They both enjoy a good chase around the house.

Books Read in 2026:



January 2026
1. These Days by Lucy Caldwell, 4.5 stars
2. Heartwood by Amity Gaige, 3.25 stars
3. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff (audio) (reread), 5 stars
4. The Darkness Knows by Arnaldur Indridason, OTS#1, 3 stars
5. Orchestrated Death by Cynthia’s Harrod-Eagles, OTS #2, 3 stars
6. When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen, OTS #3, 5 stars

February 2026
7. Evensong by Stewart O’Nan, 4.25 stars
8. Winter by Val McDermid (audio) 3.5 stars
9. Sylvester, or The Wicked Uncle by Georgette Heyer, OTS #4, 4 stars
10. Summer Half by Angela Thirkell, OTS #5, 3 stars
11. Standing By the Wall by Mick Herron, OTS #6, 3.75 stars

March 2026
12. Aunt Dimity’s Death by Nancy Atherton 3 stars
13. Death Watch by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, OTS #7, 3 stars
14. Nine Dragons by Michael Connelly, OTS#8, 3 stars
15. Buckeye by Patrick Ryan, OTS#9, 4 stars

April 2026
16. This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page, 4.5 stars
17. I See You’ve Called in Dead by John Kenney, 4.5 stars
18. The Hour of the Wolf by Fatima Bhutto, 3.75 stars
19. The Hollow Land by Jane Gardam, OTS #10, 4 stars
20. The Star From Calcutta by Sujata Massey, 3 stars
21. The News From Dublin by Colm Toibin, 3.25 stars

May 2026
22. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, OTS #11, 4 stars
23. Go Gentle by Maria Semple, 4.25 stars
24. The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout, 4.5 stars
25. Bookish: How Reading Shapes Our Lives by Lucy Mangan, 3.5 stars
26. Whale Fall by Elizabeth O’Connor, 4 stars
27. Miss Pinkerton by Mary Robert’s Rinehart, OTS #12, 3 stars
28. Fire in the Thatch by E.C.R. Lorac, OTS #13, 4 stars
29. Ironwood by Michael Connelly, OTS #14, 3.5 stars
30. A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst, 4 stars

June 2026
31. Out of Body by Chris Vanjonack, OTS #16, 5 stars
32. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, OTS #15, 5 stars
33. Whistler by Ann Patchett, 5 stars

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New Year greetings from Kuala Lumpur. My project is at least physically completed and an addition to the city scape.

Look forward to keeping up with you in 2026, Joanne

Happy New Year, Joanne. Wishing you a healthy and book-filled 2026. I bet it is very nice having Chris back home or at least nearby.

Welcome back, Joanne - love the Calvin and Hobbes!

Happy New Year, Joanne. I LOVE that Calvin and Hobbes. What a great list of favorites.

Happy New Year, Joanne! And look at this sparkly new thread! Woot!

>1 Copperskye: The Calvin and Hobbes says it all, doesn't it.

>6 PaulCranswick: Welcome Paul, back at you!

>7 msf59: Happy New Year to you, too, Mark! Chris is about 30 minutes away. He hasn’t lived this close since a year during Covid. It’s nice for however long it lasts.

>8 drneutron: Thank you, Jim, and thank you for keeping us organized all these years!

>9 BLBera: Happy New Year, Beth!

>10 Storeetllr: Happy (hopefully) 2026 to you, Mary! Sometimes that’s the best we can do.

I’ve got a lot of starring to get to….

Happy new year! Happy new thread!

>1 Copperskye: I saw a post that suggested new year's resolutions did not have to be positive. Eating more cookies is a perfectly reasonable resolution.

I have you to thank for introducing me to the ill-mannered ladies series. It looks like there will be a third one, maybe this year? I picked up The Correspondent at the library today for my book club. I know several people loved it as did my librarian so I am looking forward to a good read.

>13 witchyrichy: New Years greetings to you, Karen and welcome! But eating more cookies IS positive, no? :)

I’m very happy you’re enjoying the Ill Mannered series. I thought the second book set up the third perfectly and I’m very much looking forward to it. I hope you love The Correspondent as much as I did and read lots of other great books too.

Happy New Year, Joanne! What a great picture of Finn and Boomer.

Hi Deborah! Thanks, and to you as well, and welcome!

Happy 2026!

New Year orisons, Joanne!

Happy new year, Joanne!

I like your list of 2025 favorites - several on there I read and loves in the past couple of years :)

Happy New Year, Joanne! LOVE seeing Boomer & Finley up top! Our kitten is keeping us on our toes.

I wish you a healthy and happy New Year filled with many exciting books. May all your wishes come true.

Happy Reading in 2026!

>17 figsfromthistle: Same to you, Anita!

>18 richardderus: And to you, Richard!

>19 katiekrug: I’m not surprised, Katie, our tastes are so similar. Looking for to seeing what you’ll be reading this year.

>20 AMQS: Happy New Year, Anne! Kittens will do that!

>21 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara. Wishing you all good things in 2026!

>22 PaperbackPirate: Same to you Pirate! Wishing you well!

I did the meme last night while watching the Nuggets fall apart.

End of Year (2025) Meme:

Describe yourself: Stoner

Describe how you feel: Heart Be at Peace

Describe where you currently live: Queen City

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Reykjavik

Your favorite time of day is: The Darkness

Your favorite form of transportation: The Ferryman and His Wife

Your best friend is: Frankie

You and your friends are: Saints For All Occasions

What’s the weather like: The Mist

You fear: Wildfire at Midnight

What is the best advice you have to give: Go As a River

Thought for the day: Think Little

Your soul’s present condition: Holding

What is life for you: The Last American Road Trip

What was 2025 like for you: Clown Town

What do you want from 2026: A Year of Marvellous Ways

Happy new year and new thread, Joanne. Your *kids* are adorable! And, a *good chase around the house* is one of the requirements, isn't it, lol!

Great meme answers. It is always so interesting to see what everyone comes up with.

>25 jessibud2: Hi Shelley, happy new year to you!

>26 thornton37814: Welcome Lori, sometimes the books fit in so well.

Happy New Year, Joanne and Finn and Boomer!

Thanks Nora, same to you!

>1 Copperskye: I love Calvin and Hobbes!

>24 Copperskye: Great meme answers! I love The Year of Marvellous Ways as an answer - and it was not a bad book either :)

A Belated Happy New Year!

1. These Days by Lucy Caldwell

Beautifully told WWII story about the experiences of two sisters living through the Belfast Blitz in the spring of 1941. Be sure to read the acknowledgements at the end. I liked discovering that one of the characters was based on a real person. What a great book to start off the year!

>30 alcottacre: Hi Stasia! Happy 2026 to you and let’s hope something marvelous happens this year! :)

I really enjoyed These Days, I'm glad you did too, Joanne.

>33 vancouverdeb: Such a good book, Deborah! I remember reading your thoughts on it and wanting to read it so thank you.

>31 Copperskye: Great first read of the year! It was one of my favorites last year.

>35 BLBera: That it was, Beth! It was both you and Deborah that brought it to my attention. Thank you!

It's on my list, too, and I am always grateful for the recommendations I get here!

Happy new year! It's wonderful to start the year off with a good book! Wally will be 2 at the end of March, so our pups are very close in age.

>31 Copperskye: Happy to see your new year get off to a positive reading start.....long may it continue.

>37 AMQS: It’s a good one, Anne!

>38 cbl_tn: Hi Carrie! Has Wally settled down? Finn has his moments, for sure, but he’s pretty much turning into a couch potato.

>39 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul! I hope it’s a good reading omen for 2026!

>40 Copperskye: Wally has settled down a bit, but he is still very active. He's trained to ring a bell when he needs to go out, but lately he's started ringing the bell when he wants to go out, which is a very different thing!

>41 cbl_tn: lol. For our dogs, there’s a very fine line between needing and wanting! Finn walks up to me and barks, very loudly and very insistently, to go out.

>42 Copperskye: Muffin does what I call " demand barking" too. Usually just one bark to let us know - I want food, I want to get out on a walk or sometimes it's hard to decipher. Sometime it means let me in / out to the balcony . She likes the cold.

>43 vancouverdeb: I’m glad Finn only does this when he needs to go out. He doesn’t just bark once. He stops and starts until I get up. He usually doesn’t have to wait long. lol. I’m well trained.

2. Heartwood by Amity Gaige

I expected to like this story, of an Appalachian Trail hiker lost in the wilderness of Maine, more than I did. The POV kept shifting, which I’m normally fine with, but it just kept stalling the momentum until I didn’t really care. Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for a woman in peril story. I also figured out what was going on pretty quickly.

It did bring back memories of time spent riding horseback on portions of the AT in NJ, the white blazes on the trees, and a very rocky, narrow trail.

>31 Copperskye: Already in the BlackHole or I would be adding it again.

>45 Copperskye: Sorry to hear that was not a good read for you. I hope your next one is better!

Have a wonderful weekend, Joanne!

>45 Copperskye: Sorry you didn't enjoy Heartwood as much as you thought you would. I gave it a 4-star rating, but it's not a book I will ever reread.

>46 alcottacre: Hi Stasia, Thanks for the well wishes - hope you’re having a good weekend, too!

>47 Storeetllr: Hi Mary, Sometimes, it’s just not the right time. I started and stopped three books yesterday before I settled on my current read The Darkness Knows, so maybe it’s more me than the book.

3. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

I’ve read this charmer twice (at least), in 2009 and 2018, and I’ve seen the movie. I believe this is the first time I listened to it. Just a couple hours of my time while I undressed the Christmas tree and I’m glad I did. I thought the full cast of narrators was perfect. The 20 year correspondence, beginning just after the end of WWII, between a NY book lover and a London bookseller, and if you need something to help restore your faith in humanity in these dark times, give this a go.

I came very close, several times, to slipping this puzzle back in the box when all I had left were blue pieces, some with random white dots. But I liked it and was a gift, and I’m stubborn. The 45 birds are all IDd on the back of the box

>45 Copperskye: Like >46 alcottacre: I gave it 4* but will not be re-reading it. Too many books are that way for me...guess I'm gettin' jaded.

Happy week-ahead's reads!

Hi Joanne and Happy New Year.

I just finished The Correspondent a couple days ago and gave it the full five stars. I just loved it. I also see Prophet Song and Tilt on your best-of-2025 list. Also two of my favorite reads in recent memory.

I don't know how well I will "keep up" this year but I will be here when I am able.

>50 Copperskye: That is a gorgeous puzzle, Joanne, but I can see it would be challenging!

Hi, Joanne. We had similar feelings about Heartwood. I sure enjoyed the premise and set-up of it. Love the Charley Harper puzzle too. Very cool.

I think I liked Heartwood more than you did, Joanne, but the ranger really appealed to me. However, will I remember it in a year? Probably not.

That puzzle looks awful! I would have given up.

>50 Copperskye: I adore Charlie Harper's artwork!

>50 Copperskye: Boy that looks complicated, Joanne, but quite striking!

>51 richardderus: Yes, Richard, too many books vying for our attention. Plus realizing there are books I will never get to as the years creep along…

>52 EBT1002: Hi Ellen, It’s good to see you here! I’m so glad you loved The Correspondent, too! It was hands down, my very favorite last year. I hope 2026 brings you many more favorites!

>53 vancouverdeb: It was a fun puzzle until it wasn’t, Deborah. Sorting all the blue pieces by shape helped a great deal. (I’m usually not that organized in my puzzling.)

>54 msf59: Hi Mark! It had its moments but I guess I was expecting more.

>55 BLBera: I liked the ranger character, too, Beth. I just wish there had been more of her!

>56 EBT1002: Me too!! That’s the first Charley Harper puzzle I’ve worked on.

>57 PaulCranswick: Striking is a good way to describe it, Paul!

>58 Copperskye: I sometimes have to resort to sorting by shape too, Joanne, but it's never fun. And that's a large area of blue.

Hey, Joanne! Rumor has it that it's your birthday.

Happy birthday!!

Thank you, Mary and Shelley!

The years just keep rolling along (thank goodness)!

Happy Birthday to one of my favorite LTers! I hope you are having a great day, Joanne.

>63 msf59: Aw, thank you, Mark! I had a lovely birthday today.

Happy Birthday, Joanne. Many happy returns.

Happy birthday, dear Joanne!

>65 BLBera: Thanks Beth!!

>66 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul!!

Happy belated birthday, Joanne!

>68 norabelle414: Thank you, Nora!

Joanne, I hope you had a lovely birthday this week.

I never thought to listen to 84, Charing Cross Road. I have read it more times than I can count and seen the movie (and read it aloud to the girls), and I agree with you: it is a restore your faith in humanity kind of book.

>70 AMQS: Thank you, Anne. When you get a chance, I think you’d love the audio. I borrowed the full-cast version on Libby.

4. The Darkness Knows by Arnaldur Indridason

When a body is found at a glacier, it reopens a cold case that has haunted retired Detective Konrad for decades and he leaves his retirement to get some answers. This is the first book in a series about an Icelantic detective and one that fans of Nordic Noir would enjoy.

I've kind of had Arnaldur Indridason on my radar for a while. There are so many good books to read!! *insert image of "The Scream" here*

>72 Copperskye: This does sound good, Joanne.

>73 EBT1002: I hear you, Ellen. I’ve had a copy of Jar City on the shelf for years but for some reason never felt drawn to it. I’ll try to continue this series, though. Well, at least one more.

>74 BLBera: It was good, Beth. I think you’d like it, too.

>73 EBT1002: & >75 Copperskye: Definitely my favourite of the Icelandic Nordic Noir authors. Loved his Erlendur series and read all of them. Read the first Konrad book too and hope to get to the next one sometime this year.

A belated happy birthday, Joanne, and a very belated happy new year! I love 84, Charing Cross Road and have reread it a couple of times. It may be just about time for another read through, in fact...

>76 PaulCranswick: That’s good to know, Paul. Thanks for chiming in. My favorite author of the genre is Ragnar Jonasson but he’s also the author I’ve read the most so I don’t have a lot to compare him to.

>77 bell7: Hi Mary, thank you! I don’t know if you do audio books, but the audio version I listened to was so good! It was like listening to a radio show. (And only a couple hours long.) I noticed the movie is available free on Roku Channel so I may watch it (again) over the weekend. Can’t get enough of a good thing! :)

>49 Copperskye: I absolutely love that book. I discovered the book through the movie and if you have not seen it, I would recommend it to you.

>72 Copperskye: Hey, my local library actually has that one! Thanks for the recommendation, Joanne.

A very belated Happy Birthday from me!

Hi Stasia, Thank you for the birthday wishes. I have seen the movie but it’s been awhile. I found it free on the Roku Channel so I may watch it again this weekend.

>80 Copperskye: I hope you enjoy it if you get a chance to watch the film again, Joanne!

>81 alcottacre: Thanks Stasia!

>75 Copperskye: and >76 PaulCranswick: Okay, I have Jar City on my shelves. I have had it there for a long time. I will move it up on the actual plan-to-read list.

I've read many books by Arnaldur Indridason , including Jar City but not The Darkness Knows, Joanne. The Quiet Mother is the third in the The Darkness Knows series.

Happy Monday, Joanne. Sorry about your Broncos and how about those weather conditions? Wow. The rookie QB did okay- very spunky and the Broncos D kept it close. The Pats just outlasted them. It was still a terrific season for Denver.

I read and enjoyed Jar City many years ago. I think that one featured a different detective.

>83 EBT1002: I’ll have to dig my copy out too, at some point, Ellen.

>84 vancouverdeb: I think it was your review of The Quiet Mother that led me to The Darkness Knows, Deborah. Thank you!

>85 msf59: Hi Mark! It was a good season, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. Oh well. That snow squall was brief and furious! But we only ended up with a couple inches of fluff. The currently beleaguered ski industry loves when it snows during Broncos games.

Oh, and we finally watched Train Dreams last night. I loved it!

5.Orchestrated Death by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

This is the first of a long running series and I thought the investigation part was pretty good. I could have used less of Bill Slider’s new relationship (with a witness, no less), but hopefully that’ll get toned down. My favorite character was Slider’s partner, Atherton, and I hope he gets a larger role in subsequent books.

>87 Copperskye: The series gets better, Joanne. I love this one, and don't worry, Atherton is a huge part of it.

>88 BLBera: Good morning, Beth! Excellent news - thank you!

>87 Copperskye: I have not read any books in that series, I do not think, so I will have to check it out. Thanks for the mention, Joanne!

Have a super Saturday!

>90 alcottacre: Good morning, Stasia. It seems like it’ll be a good series and comes highly recommended! Hope you have a good day and that the weather isn’t too awful.

6. When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen

At 89, Bo lives alone in his home in rural Sweden with his beloved elkhound, Sixten. He has caregivers who come in daily, a friend he speaks with frequently, and a son and granddaughter who visit. His wife who he greatly misses, lives in a Alzheimer care home. It is to his wife that he narrates his story and reminisces about his life - his regrets, his relationships, and his frustrations with his own age-related limitations. His greatest worry though, is his son’s awful threat to rehome his dog due to Bo’s advanced age. This is a very moving and emotional book, but really beautiful, too, and ultimately uplifting. And yes, it is absolutely a tearjerker, but still, very highly recommended.

Happy weekend, Joanne! Any chance of snow there in the foreseeable future? We have too much of it, and, with the deep freeze we are in just now, what we have isn't going to go away anytime soon.

>87 Copperskye: I haven't heard of this series before and am looking for some new mystery series, so I'll check it out.

>50 Copperskye: What a wonderful puzzle!

Happy weekend reading

Hooray for the Train Dreams adaptation and When the Cranes Fly South. Both were gems.

Happy Weekend, Joanne.

>93 Storeetllr: Hi Mary, I’m so sorry about your cold, snowy weather. You guys are really getting hammered. It seems insensitive of me to complain about our weather in light of what the entire eastern half of the country is dealing with, but it’s been warm and dry and windy and just not right. We had that little snow squall during the Bronco game last week that left us with a couple inches and that’s about it. I think the mountains are getting some snow this weekend. It’s going to be a tough summer all around if this keeps up.

Yes, give the series a try if you’re looking for something new. Thinking about series, have you tried Alison Goodman’s Ill Mannered Ladies series? There are just two so far but very fun.

>94 figsfromthistle: Hi Anita! It was challenging!

>95 msf59: Hi Mark, Totally agree. I need to reread Train Dreams I discovered when the movie started that I was confusing it with something else which turned out (after much thought) to be O’Nan’s A Prayer for the Dying. I should reread that one, too.

>50 Copperskye: Gorgeous puzzle! We are huge Charley Harper fans and have several of his posters.

When the Cranes Fly South sounds like a good one, Joanne. I just put a hold on it at my library.

Oh boy, you got me with When the Cranes Fly South. I just finished The Correspondent which I heard about from you first - a five-star read for me. Thank you!

I've got When the Cranes Fly South on hold at my library. A couple of people are ahead of me. I am looking forward to it.

>97 witchyrichy: Hi Karen, I framed it and plan to put it in a spare bedroom.

>98 BLBera: I think you’ll like it when you get to it, Beth!

>99 AMQS: Oh yay, I’m very glad to hear it! I loved The Correspondent so much I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t also love it (although I know we all have different tastes). :) Cranes will be right up your alley, too, I think!

>100 vancouverdeb: Oh good, Deborah! It seems pretty popular here in the group!

>96 Copperskye: I wish I could send you some of our snow, Joanne. And some of the cold with it. I worry about what will happen in Colorado this summer if you don't get a good snowpack this winter.

>102 Storeetllr: Thanks anyway, Mary! :) March and February are our snowiest months so maybe we’ll still get enough that we all don’t wither away. Hope springs eternal! Hope all is well in your neck of the woods.

7. Evensong by Stewart O,Nan

Another heartfelt entry in O’Nan’s continuing story of Emily and Arlene, and also the story of a group of older women in the Humpty Dumpty Club who form a community to help others when they fall off the proverbial wall and need some support. I loved all these characters and especially the chance to revisit Emily and Arlene and even Henry, and their family.

My son has a debut collection of short stories coming out next September (the 22nd) from William Morrow. The cover was just finalized this week and so, of course, I wanted to share it. It’s bold and striking which matches his storytelling well!

https://www.amazon.com/Out-Body-Stories-Chris-Vanjonack/dp/0063471523/ref=sr_1_1...

8. Winter by Val McDermid

This was a true treat to listen to! Narrated by the author whose deep Scottish brogue I could listen to all day, this was a bit of an odd choice for me since I haven’t read any of her fiction, but I’m trying to get back into audio books and this was just a couple hours long. Part memoir and part love letter to Scotland’s cold season and what makes a life warm.

>105 Copperskye: WOW! This is amazing news. Go Chris!! Remind us about this when the publishing date comes closer. Have you read his short fiction? If so- I am sure you were impressed? 😜

Sweet Thursday, Joanne. Thanks for the reminder about Evensong. I love these Emily stories. I think I missed the Henry entry. We just started the 2nd season of The Pitt. Man, this is such a good show. What a stellar cast. Have you seen it? I am also enjoying the 2nd season of Landman. This is more of a guilty pleasure and so worth watching for an impressive Billy Bob Thorton.

>105 Copperskye: I've emailed my contact at Morrow to ask them for the DRC when it becomes available. I'll ask a few friends to do the same. I hope he's getting a huge rush from this amazing achievement!

Sending hugs

>92 Copperskye: Already in the BlackHole or I would be adding it again! Glad to see that you enjoyed it so much, Joanne.

>104 Copperskye: I really need to read that one. I loved Emily, Alone and Henry, Himself. Thanks for the recommendation of Evensong!

>105 Copperskye: That is so cool! Congratulations to Chris!

>106 Copperskye: That book sounds really good too. Your thread is obviously a dangerous place for me!

Dangerous thread, Joanne. >104 Copperskye: looks wonderful - what are the previous books about Emily and Arlene?

>105 Copperskye: OMG LOOK AT THAT BOOK COVER WITH CHRIS'S NAME ON IT!!!! That is such wonderful and exciting news! I can't even imagine how you must feel. How Chris must feel! Congratulations!

>106 Copperskye: Stop. I'm afraid my TBR list will break!

>107 msf59: I’m still pretty amazed by the whole thing, Mark! Not that I don’t think he’s talented, but more that it’s so difficult to get an agent and a publisher and a contract. Somehow all the pieces came together for him. I was looking at the table of contents a while ago and I think I’ve read, in one form or another, about a third of them, particularly those that have been previously published. And of course I was impressed! :) That said, like every other collection out there, I know it won’t be for everyone.

>108 msf59: I think Henry, Himself was my favorite. I loved S1 of The Pitt but haven’t started S2 yet. I don’t know much about Landman but Billy Bob Thornton is always entertaining - I’ll have to check it out. We got caught up watching Hijack which is really ridiculous but we keep on watching it.

>109 richardderus: Oh Richard, thank you! That is very, very kind of you! And yes, he’s absolutely enjoying every bit of this. He was 8 or 9 years old when he first said he wanted to be a writer so this is almost a lifelong dream come true. Hugs back at you!

>110 alcottacre: Hi Stasia! Thank you! I really can’t imagine the depth of your black hole - so many books!

>111 AMQS: Hi Anne, thank you! It’s all so hard to believe! (He’s currently working with some Hollywood people to develop a screen play of one of his stories - wild! He doesn’t think it’ll go anywhere but he’s having fun!)

I hope your recovery is going well.

The other O’Nan books with these characters are Wish You Were Here, Emily, Alone, and Henry, Himself. I’ve listed them in the order they were written which is not the chronological order of the stories but is the order I’d recommend reading them. Of course it’s not necessary, but like any series (and this is a very loose series, so much that I hesitate to call it one) it makes for a richer read. I’m a fan and I loved them all!

And Winter is a very quick listen! :)

Well, good, I will have to get to Henry, Himself sooner than later.

Have a nice weekend, Joanne and once again congrats to Chris. That is awesome.

The cover of Chris' book is absolutely beautiful. I'd buy it just for that if I weren't already going to because he's like two degrees of separation from me since I've met you in person :D

>113 msf59: It’s a good one, Mark! And I’ll be sure to pass along your congrats. Happy weekend to you and I hope your weather improves soon (but you’ll be in FL soon, no?). I probably shouldn’t mention that it’ll be in the mid 60s here this weekend. And windy. Winter, what winter? :(

>114 katiekrug: Aw, that’s sweet, Katie, thanks! Isn’t that cover great?! It’s by Kimberly Glyder. She’s got a great portfolio. I don’t think cover designers get enough recognition.

>105 Copperskye: How exciting, Joanne! Congratulations to your son and your family. I've also really enjoyed many of the Stewart O'Nan books. He's a great author.

>116 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah, thank you! I’ve read quite a few of O’Nan’s books, too, and have loved most of them. I also met him at a reading several years ago and he’s very down to earth and friendly.

Finley enjoyed rooting for his favorites at the WKC dog show at the Garden last week.

And a couple of recent puzzles -

>118 Copperskye: *baaawww* That's so sweet! Happy weekend-ahead's reads, Joanne!

>119 Copperskye: I think my parents did the lower puzzle. The green was a bear. When I visit, I always help. :)

That is such great news about your son and his story collection. I will look for it. It is a striking cover.

I really enjoyed Evensong as well.

>120 richardderus: He enjoyed the dogs, Richard! Yesterday there was an FBI spokesman on the news and he started barking at him. Was pretty odd. We’ll need to limit his screen time.

>121 BLBera: Good morning, Beth, yes, I had to take the green apart and redo it. Some of the pieces in the Buffalo Games puzzles can be very deceptive. I love O’Nan’s characters and kind of miss them.

>105 Copperskye: Congratulations! That's so exciting!
>118 Copperskye: So cute!

>122 Copperskye: Limiting a dog's screentime! I love that.

>119 Copperskye: love the puzzles! Im sure I have the bottom one in a Halloween scene. I'm working on a puzzle now, too. A great pleasure I rarely have time to indulge!

>119 Copperskye: Great looking puzzles, Joanne. Good for Finley, rooting for his favourites!

>123 PaperbackPirate: Thanks, Pirate!

>124 richardderus: :)

>125 AMQS: Puzzles are fun, especially when you don’t feel 100%. When I have a migraine, I can’t read or listen to anything, but I can work on a puzzle.

>126 vancouverdeb: They were both fun to do, Deborah! I’m working on an Eeboo puzzle now.

>104 Copperskye: I am starting Evensong today and hope that I enjoy it as much as you did, Joanne!

>118 Copperskye: Aw, that is cute!

>119 Copperskye: Nice!

Ohh! Eeboo,, one of my favourite brands of puzzles, Joanne. I can't wait to see which one you chose.

>128 alcottacre: I hope so, too, Stasia!

>129 vancouverdeb: Mine, too, Deborah, some of my favorites are Eeboo puzzles.

Just coming over to thank you for your review of Evensong, which made me pick up the book. I really liked it. I loved O'Nan's Emily, Alone so was very happy to make her acquaintance again in this book.

>104 Copperskye: Evensong has been added to the TBR list.

>105 Copperskye: How exciting! I have made the pre-order.

>131 alcottacre: Hi Stasia! I’m so glad you liked it! I’ll stop by your thread to see if you’ve read Henry, Himself, my favorite of the “series”.

>132 Whisper1: Oh, that’s very charming, Linda! Happy Valentines Day to you!

>133 witchyrichy: Hi Karen! You can’t go wrong with the O’Nan, and thank you!

>105 Copperskye: How exciting! I've preordered the audiobook copy. Big congratulations to Chris! It's a huge achievement!

>118 Copperskye: Love it! (Limiting his screentime! Too funny.)

>135 Storeetllr: Thank you, Mary, he is very excited about it all!

9. Sylvester, or The Wicked Uncle by Georgette Heyer

Another fun, funny and ridiculous Heyer romp, this one with proud and clueless aristocrat, Sylvester, who is looking for a wife, and young, independent Phoebe whose novel, about a proud and clueless Duke, is about to be published. Young Edmund and Phoebe’s lifelong friend Tom were both perfect side characters. Pure escapism!

This was a fun Eeboo puzzle

>138 Copperskye: I love your puzzle, Joanne. That is one I have not done - or even own. I am currently working on an Eeboo puzzle, but I forget the title. They are colourful lovely puzzles.

>137 Copperskye: I haven't read that one, but I will read anything Heyer writes. This is a good time for her.

>138 Copperskye: It was fun, Deborah. I think it’s called Alchemist’s Library.

>139 vancouverdeb: It was a fun one, Beth, and a great diversion. Heyer wrote such witty dialog and several times I laughed out loud.

10. Summer Half by Angela Thirkell

This is the fifth book in Thirkell’s Barsetshire series. Young Colin, in a fit of misguided virtue, decides he needs to go off on his own to be an assistant headmaster at a local school rather than continue his education and join his family’s law firm. Lighthearted social and family comedy in the English countryside between the wars.

>138 Copperskye: Oh, I really like that one. Makes me wish I were into puzzles :) My mother is, but she prefers the large format Ravensburger ones. Maybe I can talk her into an Eeboo?

>142 Copperskye: I have the first book in that series but have never managed to read it. I really need to do that!

>143 alcottacre: Hi Stasia! I like the Eeboo puzzles I’ve done. It all depends on the artist. The pieces are glossy, though, so depending on the light source, there can be a glare.

I like but don’t love the Thirkell books - I keep hoping to read one that’ll change that.

>144 Copperskye: Well, we cannot love all the books. How would we have room for them all? :)

Hmm, a consideration for buying Eeboo puzzles for Mother then. I am not at all sure she would like the glare. Her table is directly underneath the light fixture on which she does her puzzles.

>145 alcottacre: Too true, Stasia!

I also work with an overhead light at my dining room table. It’s noticeable but then the puzzles are so pretty, I deal with it!

>142 Copperskye: I read the first two, I think and really enjoyed them. Another author to get back to...

Hi, Joanne! Happy first day of March!

I was making banana-oat bites yesterday and thought of you and our Denver ALA adventure. What a lovely day that was!

>147 BLBera: Hi Beth, Too many authors to get back to. They are good, gentle reads when you need a good, gentle read.

>148 Storeetllr: Good morning, Mary! How nice to be thought of! :) That was a fun time, wasn’t it! I’m so glad that we had the opportunity to go.

11. Standing By the Wall by Mick Herron

This is a collection of 5 novellas, loosely related to Herron’s Slough House series. I loved the first 4 connected stories which revolved around John Bachelor, a “Milkman” who checks in on pensioned spies and agents. The title story was more Slough House connected but a little less interesting. All added backstory on some well-loved characters.

We finally got some snow yesterday! About 7” of heavy wet spring snow! It’s mostly gone now and back in the upper 60s again but it was nice for a day. :)

12. Aunt Dimity’s Death by Nancy Atherton

This is the first book of a long running cozy ghost series. I thought it might be something I’d like, and it was ok, but I doubt I’ll read more.

And this was a fun Gallison puzzle I finished a couple days ago. I’d happily do this one again.

151 What a beautiful dog!

>154 Whisper1: Thank you Linda and nice to see you! He looks like a giant dog in that photo, doesn’t he? Lol

Happy March, Joanne. I love the photo of Finley in the snow. Cool puzzle too.

Love the Finley photo and that Gallison puzzle. I tend to keep my Gallisons to do again, because I like them so much :)

>151 Copperskye: Hooray for snow and thanks for sharing your cutie!

>153 Copperskye: I love the puzzle, Joanne.

It is shirt-sleeve weather here today. I'm glad you got some snow. I hope it helps with the drought.

>151 Copperskye: Great pic of Finn in the snow, which, I mean, finally. Though one day of it isn't enough, is it? Though I'm a fan of 60F weather, I know Colorado needs a snowpack to get through the dry summer months.

>153 Copperskye: Very cute. You guys are making me want my granddaughter to come visit again because that's when I do puzzles -- but then, I always want her to come visit so...

>153 Copperskye: I love the puzzle, Joanne! Snow yesterday and 7 inches! Yikes. Great picture though.

>156 msf59: Hi Mark, Thanks!

>157 katiekrug: Hi Katie! I have several Gallison Christmas puzzles that I enjoy redoing. They have a good variety of artists as well as good quality puzzles.

>158 PaperbackPirate: Hi Pirate! The snow is a distant memory.

>159 BLBera: Hi Beth, It was a fun one! I think we have 80° temp in the forecast for next week. Yikes!

>160 Storeetllr: Hi Mary! Thanks! No, one day won’t cut it. We’re going to have a rough summer. This winter was our warmest on record (yay us) and not by a little - by about 2°. And the wind is up today, and for the next couple days. We might all blow away with the dust. :(

>161 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba! Aw, I hope you get a lot of visits from your granddaughter as well as lots of puzzle time! It’s great that she enjoys them with you.

>162 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah! I have my fingers crossed that we get some more snow soon!

>163 Copperskye: Thanks Joann but she's busy in grad school in L.A. and has a lovely boy friend in San Diego so it's a bit hard for her to find time to come north often. Unlike her brother (who is a delightful young man but, you know, a guy) she calls often though.

>164 RebaRelishesReading: Busy young adults are no fun! :( At least she’s not terribly far away and I’m sure girls are better at keeping in touch than boys are.

Checking out the new image feature.

Well that was easy. We took a long walk along the canal before the heat set in today. It’s summer in March here.

>166 Copperskye: Is that Finn? He's not a puppy anymore, is he. Great pic. Glad the new image feature worked for you!

>168 Storeetllr: Hi Mary, Yes, that’s my big boy, Finn. He’s almost 2, so physically mature, but still has a puppy brain.

>166 Copperskye: Great picture of Finn, Joanne! We've had good weather her the past couple of days, 15 C yesterday and warm again today and sunny too.

I'll bet Finn is a wonderful, loving dog -- and very handsome too.

>170 vancouverdeb: Thanks Deborah! It’s currently 80°F here at 6pm in the Denver suburbs. It was 87°F today - we keep breaking heat records. Yay us. :(

>171 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba, He’s still a goofy teenager but he loves his mom and I love him!

13. Death Watch by Cynthia Harrods’-Eagles

The second book in a long running series. The crime, having to do with a motel fire and a possible suicide, seemed overly complicated (but I guess if it was simple, it wouldn’t be as interesting) but I do enjoy the characters.

14. Nine Dragons by Michael Connelly

I’ve read all the Bosch books, in order, except for this one. (I remember that at the time, I didn’t have a paperback copy to take on vacation but I did have the next one and so I skipped it.) Any book by Connelly is an entertaining read but I didn’t love this one. Harry came off as a little bit of a jerk and the action in Hong Kong seemed to rely on coincidence. Also, two deaths were kind of treated as afterthoughts which struck me as odd. If I ever go back and read this series, I’d probably skip this one again. But still, an entertaining read.

>153 Copperskye: This looks like a good puzzle to put together. i have three large plastic containers containing puzzles. And, there is a small cabinet in the dining room with ones I want to put together soon. Your posts of puzzles leads me to start putting some of them together again. Thanks for posting your acccomplishments.

Sweet Thursday, Joanne. Glad to hear you have The Glorians lined up soon. I just finished it and I think you will really like it. TTW is a treasure.

>175 Whisper1: Hi Linda! I find working on a puzzle to be very relaxing, especially if I’m feeling stressed about something. And if I have a headache that won’t go away, puzzling is about the only thing I can do. Enjoy and post a photo when you’re done!

>176 msf59: Hi Mark! I realized after I posted that I have a copy of Erosion somewhere. I picked up a copy just before we had some house guests and I tucked it away…somewhere. I need to remember to look for it.

>173 Copperskye: I am so happy to see another Bill Slider fan. I think the series gets better. I am probably due...

Finn is a sweetie.

>178 BLBera: Hi Beth! He’s an interesting character.

87 Degrees so early in the years, Joanne. We are exclaiming about temps of 14 C which is 57 F. I enjoy that temp.

>174 Copperskye: I've got a signed hardback copy of this one, though I don't remember much about it. I stopped reading the series after I DNFd (!) Two Kinds of Truth. Something about it just annoyed me, and I never went back to it or the series. Sad, because I used to love these mysteries.

It's very troubling, the heat and lack of snowpack in Colorado. I wish I could send you some of our rain that floods the basement every damn time there's more than 1/2" of it.

>180 vancouverdeb: The weather has been very weird, Deborah. We essentially had no winter.

>181 Storeetllr: Hi Mary, I still love the Bosch series, just not that one. I’ve preordered the one coming out later this year. Coincidentally, I have a signed hardcover of the one you DNF, Two Kinds of Truth.

And I wish you could send some water, it’s no fun getting flooded!

A few images from our local No Kings Protest on Saturday. That little golden girl is not mine but too cute and I loved her sign!

That is indeed clever and the doggie beautiful. (my favorite sign recently was one saying "I prefer my ICE crushed"

15. Buckeye by Patrick Ryan

I wasn’t sure at first, but I wound up really liking this sweeping story of two couples living and raising families in a small Ohio town from pre WWII through the Vietnam war. Maybe it could have been a little tighter - I did think it was overly long, but I enjoyed the memorable characters and the prose. I do love old fashioned family sagas. 4 stars

I’ll mention that Patrick is a friend and mentor of my son’s so I was predisposed to liking it!

Hooray for attending a No Kings event. Glad you liked Buckeye. Just a bit more than I did. Very cool to hear that Ryan is a friend and mentor to Chris. Very cool.

>183 Copperskye: My daughter walked in The March with her sign that said LOVE in huge letters on one side

and listed the murders by ICE and in Iran on the other.

My large NO KINGS IN TOKEN CREEK (our hometown) sign is still up around the phone pole.

>183 Copperskye: Nice pics! Looks like you had a great turnout on a beautiful day! And I love the beautiful puppy and its sign.

>185 Copperskye: I've heard a lot of good things about Buckeye, Joanne. One of these days...

We were traveling on Saturday, so we missed the No Kings marches. I would have loved to be in St. Paul.

>183 Copperskye: Thanks for posting images from the march held on Saturday. I also like the puppy and the sign!!

>185 Copperskye: Glad that you enjoyed Buckeye, Joanne and the the author is a friend of your son's makes it even better.

>186 msf59: Hi Mark, Buckeye was a good, old-fashioned read!

>187 m.belljackson: Nice signs!! There are a lot of creative people around. Mine was “No Kings, no idiots either”.

>188 Storeetllr: It’s encouraging to see several hundred people waving signs in local intersections and it’s great to see a lot of community spirit (although much rather that it wasn’t necessary!)!

>189 BLBera: Minnesota has so much to protest. Sadly. I think you’ll like Buckeye, Beth, whenever you might get to it.

>190 Whisper1: Hi Linda, Denver had a much bigger gathering but I appreciated the smaller one closer to home!

>191 vancouverdeb: Overall, it was a good read, Deborah.

16. This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page

This book was so good and I was so surprised that I liked it as much as I did. A young widow receives a call from her local bookshop and discovers that her husband had ordered 12 books, one for each month of the coming year, to help her rediscover life after her devastating loss. Sweet without being cloying and a great depiction of grief and friendship and family. Not too romancey and wonderfully bookish.

>193 Copperskye: That sounds lovely!!

>193 Copperskye: That sounds like a good read, Joanne. Happy Easter!

>194 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba, It was! :)

>195 vancouverdeb: Happy Easter to you too, Deborah! I hope you had a good day.

I prefer the UK cover for This Book Made Me Think of You and think it’s much better suited -

17. I See You’ve Called in Dead by John Kenney

A very touching story of an obituary writer who’s having a bad time in his life and in a drunken state, publishes his own obituary. Bud is ultimately likeable as he travels around NYC, meeting new friends at stranger’s funerals, and although it doesn’t sound like a fun read, it really was.

Thanks to my LT friends who recommended this - I think Mary’s thoughts on it finally prompted me to give it a go.

7:30 this morning and 1:30 this afternoon. It’s finally winter! lol.

>198 Copperskye: - EEK! It won't last. Just keep saying that!

Hi Shelley! Hard freeze tonight and back near 80°F by mid-week. I may put the patio furniture out finally (once it warms up)!

>198 Copperskye: OMG -- the weather is crazy all over lately!! Our taller mountains are all white on top again after having had a relatively warm winter and early spring.

>198 Copperskye: That is Colorado weather for you. The snow is probably already gone, right?

I also had a good time with I See You’ve Called in Dead.

>198 Copperskye: That is spring in Minnesota as well, Joanne.

>197 Copperskye: I've heard good things about this one on LT. I might have to give it a try.

Happy Saturday, Joanne!

>197 Copperskye: So glad you enjoyed it!

>198 Copperskye: Whoa! That changed fast! I really wish for your sake (and all of Colorado) you'd get more snow, at least in the mountains.

>198 Copperskye: Great, we need the water! (But I hope your plants are ok!)

>201 RebaRelishesReading: It was good to see the snow this morning on our mountains, too, Reba. The weather has been wild all over.

>202 msf59: Mostly gone, Mark, and it was so needed!

>203 BLBera: I think you’d enjoy I See You’ve Called in Dead, Beth.

>204 Storeetllr: Hi Mary! Thank you for recommending it!

>205 PaperbackPirate: Hi Pirate! Everything seems to have bounced back (for the most part) once the sun came out today. Thankful for the snow but maybe not the cold!

18. The Hour of the Wolf: A Memoir by Fatima Bhutto

I don’t read a lot of memoirs especially memoirs by people with whom I’m unfamiliar. I don’t remember why I had a hold on this at my library but it was an interesting read. Bhutto muses about her life, her grief over her father’s assassination when she was a teen, her fraught relationship with an abusive man she refers to only as “the man” (no loss there), and the love of her life, Coco, a small Jack Russell Terrior. A slim, engaging read.

>198 Copperskye: What a big change in the weather from morning to afternoon, Joanne!

>208 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah, a welcome, however brief, change!

19. The Hollow Land by Jane Gardam

A collection of delightful, connected stories centered on two young boys, one of a local Cumbrian farm family and the other of a London family who have let a nearby holiday cottage for decades. The boys, their families, and the townspeople are all wonderful characters. It’s classified as children’s lit but probably better appreciated by adults.

>210 Copperskye: I haven't seen anything of that one before, Joanne. Will see if I can track it down.

Have a lovely weekend.

>211 PaulCranswick: Jane Gardam never seems to disappoint, Paul. Thanks for stopping by and hope your weekend is going well!

Hi Joanne! Did you get any rain today? We're oping it really comes down this week.

You got me with This Book Made Me Think of You and I have put it on my WL. The concept sounds similar to The Reading List that I read recently, which I thought was a little clunky. I'm sure your rec is better! Fortunately Mary already got me with I See You've Called in Dead.

>213 AMQS: Hi Anne! We did get a nice rain this afternoon! Along with some hail and thunder. It really feels like spring (rather than our summery winter). I’m not a fan of all the clouds, but I’m looking forward to more rain.

I hope This Book Made Me Think of You and I See You’ve Called in Dead work for you when you get to them. I thought they were both very fun!

>207 Copperskye: I read reviews of this and thought it sounded interesting. Then I saw I have an unread novel of hers. So, I will probably read that first.

Joanne, Kayla called today to say her visit with the doctor indicated she will be hospitalized Wednesday and induced for delivery. The baby should be here Wednesday afternoon/night. Or, perhaps Thursday a.m.

You got me with This Book Made Me Think of You. Joanne . I took it out from the library, but unfortunately did not get a chance to read it before I had to take it back- two other holds awaiting the book.

>215 BLBera: It was interesting, Beth, and relatively short.

>216 Whisper1: How exciting, Linda! Today is the day! I’ll stop by your thread to see the latest news.

>217 vancouverdeb: That happens to me more often than I’d like to admit, Deborah! I love that I can freeze my holds but sometimes they still get away from me.

20. The Star from Calcutta by Sujata Massey

This is the fifth book in Massey’s Perveen Mistry series about a young female lawyer in 1920s Bombay. I enjoy the characters in this series but I thought this was the weakest “mystery” in the series, revolving around rival movie studios and a missing actress. The book cover is a departure from the other four and I’m not a fan; I love the style of the others.

>219 Copperskye: I have heard good things about that series too, Joanne and will give it a go soon.

>220 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul! It’s an entertaining series and I enjoy the historical aspect. I don't know much about India in the 1920s and I appreciate fiction that helps me pick up a few things.

21. The News from Dublin by Colm Toibin

Nine stories that were, as expected, beautifully written, but I just didn’t connect with any of them. I thought The Journey to Galway and Summer of ‘38 were the most interesting.

>223 Copperskye: I have seen that one in the Bookstore here and I wasn't sure.......I'm still not sure and I reckon on waiting for the paperback version now.

22. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

A classic children’s book that I’d never read and frankly, knew nothing about. I enjoyed it and was glad that I finally picked it up. I wondered what I would have thought of it if I had read it as a child. I probably would have loved the freedom and adventure and friendship that the three children found together. But as an adult, I found the parental neglect pretty appalling. But all’s well that ends well and it really was a sweet, magical read.

Double postings…everything is slow and sticky, is it my iPad being weird or LT?

>224 PaulCranswick: Your experience with it could be completely different, of course, Paul. I read some other reviews that loved some stories that I liked the least. We are all so different in our tastes (thank goodness!)!

Hope you’re having a good weekend!

Double posted. The site is playing up over here!

Happy upcoming Sunday, Joanne.
Hani and I are about to get ready and go for brunch.

>227 Copperskye: Yeah, i give up! Enjoy your brunch!! Best to Hani!

>229 Copperskye: She says thanks, Joanne as do I.

>22 PaperbackPirate: I loved The Secret Garden as a kid. I should reread and see if the magic holds.

>225 Copperskye: Like many of us, I loved The Secret Garden when I was kid. Glad you enjoyed it, Joanne.

>231 BLBera: >232 vancouverdeb: I’m so glad I finally read it. Thanks for dropping by Beth and Deborah!

23. Go Gentle by Maria Semple

This book was such fun! I couldn’t wait to get back to it and hated to finish it. Adora Hazzard has her life all figured out, divorced with a teenage daughter, an apartment on the Upper East Side, and, as a stoic philosopher, a dream job mentoring the young sons of a very wealthy Manhattan family. Until she meets a stranger at Lincoln Center and her perfect life begins to clash with her past. The plot seemed to keep changing but everything tied up neatly by the end.

>234 Copperskye: Wrong touchstone, but it sounds really interesting!

>235 Storeetllr: Whoops! Fixed, thanks Mary! And it was very fun.

>234 Copperskye: I am so happy to see some comments on this book! I put a library hold on it but wasn't sure. Bernadette is a hard act to follow. I will look forward to it.

>237 BLBera: I loved Bernadette, too, Beth (although I don’t remember it much). This one was fun and a bit madcap.

24. The Things We Never Never Say by Elizabeth Strout

There are many things left unsaid in this story of Artie Dam, a beloved high school history teacher in Revere, MA. Artie is struggling with life in 2024, outwardly going about his days as normal while inwardly dealing with loneliness and despair until a near fatal accident clears his head. I loved this story and Strout writes with such ease and compassion as she introduces a new set of characters and I didn’t want the book to end. I truly hope she continues to tell their stories in future books. She left me caring about them all.

The end of the spring semester, the beginning of the summer semester, and spring gardening really kept me away from threads.

Keep the pictures of Fin coming. And remind me about the new image feature?

You have done some excellent reading!

>153 Copperskye: LOVE the puzzle!

>193 Copperskye: I have this one on hold as it comes highly recommended by you and others.

>197 Copperskye: I loved I See You've Called in Dead. Glad you did, too.

>234 Copperskye: This is also on my TBR list so good to know it is a fun read!

>239 Copperskye: Sounds wonderful, Joanne. I've liked every Strout book I've read so your opinion + my experience puts this straight onto my "wish list".

>239 Copperskye: I am so glad Strout has moved on from Lucy Barton! I loved some of the books, but I was ready for new characters. I will look for this one. I'm sure there are a million library holds on it.

>240 witchyrichy: Hi Karen! Good to see you and glad you’ve found some free time to catch up a bit!

With the new image feature you can add photos to threads directly from your device using the little “Image” box under where you post a message.

>241 RebaRelishesReading: It might be my favorite of her books, Reba, although it’s been a while since I read Olive.

>242 BLBera: I am too, Beth! (A very brief mention was made of a cranky old schoolteacher up in Maine.) I hope she sticks with these characters for a book or two.

>243 Copperskye: Off to try it right now!

Happy Memorial Day, Joanne. I hope you have been enjoying the holiday weekend. I still want to give The News from Dublin a try. I am a fan and I adore short fiction. Hope it works better for me. Hooray for the latest Strout. She has been perfectly consistent these past few years. I also like that she created a new batch of characters.

>244 witchyrichy: An easy new feature, Karen!

>245 msf59: I think you’ll probably like The News From Dublin more than I did Mark.

25. Bookish: How Reading Shapes Our Lives by Lucy Mangan

I didn’t always agree with Mangan’s opinions on the books she talks about but I enjoyed how she related them to her life.

26. Whale Fall by Elizabeth O’Connor

The story of a young woman growing up on a remote Welsh Island just prior to WWII and the conflicts that arise when researchers visit. Short and lyrically written.

27. Miss Pinkerton by Mary Robert’s Rinehart

A young man is found dead - was it murder made to look like a suicide or a suicide made to look like murder? This first book in a series, about a nurse who helps her Scotland Yard Detective friend with investigations, got a little draggy in the middle and was just ok.

>247 Copperskye: I look forward to this one. I loved Whale Fall. There is something about life on islands...

>250 BLBera: You may add a book or two to the tbr stack, Beth

28. Fire in the Thatch by E.C.R. Lorac

I love these British Crime Classics books - Martin Edward’s descriptions, the cover art, and the whole idea of reprinting forgotten classics. The novels themselves can be a bit hit or miss, though. This was my first book by Lorac and was definitely a hit. Just after WWII, a young man leases a thatched cottage attached to an estate in Devon. He works hard to make repairs on both the house and the garden and becomes a popular addition to the area. But a fire destroys the cottage and Scotland Yard Inspector Macdonald is sent to investigate the tragedy. Interesting characters and great dialogue in a beautiful setting made this whodunnit a winner.

29. Ironwood by Michael Connelly

This is the second book in a new series which takes place on Catalina Island, off the coast of Southern California. I’m enjoying this series. Det. Stilwell is a good character and the setting is refreshing with a lot of potential and I liked the crossover with Renee Ballard and Bosch. My only complaint is that the book ended very abruptly. At only 336 pages, this one seemed short for Connelly and I’m not sure why he ended it where he did, practically in the middle of some action.

You have had some good reads lately, Joanne. That is always a good thing.

>239 Copperskye: Hello Joanne. I vow to visit threads more often, and yours is one I miss. I received The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout as a gift from a very special friend I met here on LT!

You are reading some great books. Happy Summer! Can it be June already?

>248 Copperskye: Have planned to read that one for a while, Joanne. Maybe this month.

>252 Copperskye: Love those books too though I am unfamiliar with that particular one.

>254 vancouverdeb: I couldn’t agree more, Deborah. And I just finished Demon Copperhead - another great book!

>255 Whisper1: Hello Linda, Horray for LT friends! Especially ones with great book taste - enjoy!

>256 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul, I kept putting off starting Whale Fall and I’m not sure why. Enjoy when you get to it! I find the British Crime Classics to be a bit irresistible.

>252 Copperskye: I had never heard of Lorac before, and recently I picked up at book of hers at the library bookstore...And now she has been mentioned a couple of times here. I guess I should give her a try.

I LOVED Demon Copperhead, can't wait to see what Kingsolver does in her new novel.

>258 BLBera: Hi Beth, I was happy to see I have a few more of hers, both on my shelves and on my Kindle. I can’t speak for any others, but I really enjoyed Fire in the Thatch.

I’m not sure why I kept putting off Demon Copperhead, but I loved it, too!

>257 Copperskye: I hope Finley is soon able to be back to fully active, Joanne. I also enjoyed Demon Copperhead, though I read it shortly after was published. I think there was a group read here on LT that I participated in.

>260 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah, I know, I was very late to the party with Demon Copperhead. A group read would have been fun. Thanks for asking about Finn, he’s happy now that we resumed some short walks and our routine is nearly back to normal!

Here’s Finley zonked on the back lawn a couple days ago (we had him neutered on Monday).

Aw, poor Finley. At least he looks comfortable. Have a good weekend!

>261 Copperskye: Finn is so cute/ handsome! I hope he is feeling 100% soon, Joanne.

>261 Copperskye: - Awww. Feel better soon, Finley!

>262 msf59: >263 vancouverdeb: >264 jessibud2: Thanks Mark, Deborah, and Shelley! Just another week. We aren’t using the donut (or the dreaded cone) anymore but he did seem to enjoy it as a pillow.

Happy weekend, all!

>261 Copperskye: He is adorable.

>261 Copperskye: Aw, poor baby! How's he doing?

>253 Copperskye: I stopped reading the Bosch series sometime after he paired up with Ballard. They just seemed to get so "out there" and not fresh anymore. I don't know. I'm tempted to try this new series, though. What do you think?

>266 BLBera: Hi Beth, he is that…usually!

>267 Storeetllr: Hi Mary, Like nothing happened. :) There are a lot of Bosch books and Ballard took a little getting used to. Bosch has aged quite a bit so his character will surely be phased out soon. In the Catalina series, Stilwell is a good main character. I’m not a fan of his girlfriend but the other supporting characters are fine. I really love the island location so I’ll stick with it. I think they’re fun.

Hi Joanne! Oh my, Finley is just adorable! You got me with >234 Copperskye: Go Gentle - looks like a great read!

>261 Copperskye: Poor fellow. I would need more than a blue neck pillow and a lay down on the lawn if Hani sent me to the vet!

>269 AMQS: Go Gentle was a fun read, Anne. I think you’d like it!

>270 PaulCranswick: Lol. I’d say that’d be true, Paul, but I know you’re always on Hani’s good side!

30. A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst

A lot of the energy ran out once they were rescued, but still, this was a very good true story, as promised, of obsession and survival.

Time for a new thread - come visit!